There’s no better way to use up leftover Thanksgiving Turkey than Turkey Carnitas. They’re perfect for Taco Tuesday, game day, and a BIG crowd pleaser!

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Transform Your Thanksgiving Leftovers into Zesty Turkey Carnitas: The Ultimate Recipe for Taco Night & Game Day

The aftermath of Thanksgiving often leaves us with an abundance of turkey, and while a classic turkey sandwich hits the spot once or twice, sometimes we crave something truly revolutionary. The thought of another reheated plate can be less than inspiring. What if you could transform those holiday leftovers into an entirely new, incredibly flavorful, and undeniably exciting meal? Enter Turkey Carnitas – a game-changing recipe that breathes vibrant Mexican life into your post-holiday bird.

I understand the feeling of a spinning head, a never-ending to-do list, and the struggle to get things done. Life gets busy, especially as the holidays approach. With Thanksgiving just around the corner, my mind is already buzzing with festive plans, and like many of you, I’m thinking about how to make the most of that delicious turkey. Instead of getting bogged down, let’s turn our culinary attention to smart, delicious solutions that delight everyone.

The holidays are a time for gathering, celebrating, and, of course, feasting! And speaking of feasts, I was recently thrilled to attend America’s Baking and Sweets show with my sister. It was an absolute treat, especially getting to join a cookie class hosted by the incredible Sally McKenney of Sally’s Baking Addiction. Yes, *that* Sally! She was demoing a brand new cookie recipe, and the energy around all things baking right before the holidays was infectious. This experience only fueled my desire to share more delightful recipes with you, especially those perfect for holiday entertaining and managing those inevitable leftovers.

The Magic of Carnitas: Giving Leftover Turkey a Second Life

Traditionally, carnitas involve pork shoulder slow-cooked until incredibly tender, then shredded and often pan-fried until crispy. This two-stage cooking process creates a sublime texture: moist, succulent meat with irresistible browned, crispy edges. It’s a technique perfectly suited for leftover Thanksgiving turkey, which can sometimes dry out when simply reheated. By adapting the carnitas method, we infuse the turkey with rich Mexican flavors and restore its tender texture, transforming it from a simple leftover into a culinary marvel. This isn’t just a meal; it’s a celebration of bold flavors and smart cooking.

With Thanksgiving only a couple of weeks away, I’m holding myself to a new standard: sharing a delicious recipe with you every weekday until the big feast! We’ll cover sides, desserts, and, critically, inspired ways to use up leftovers. And first up, these absolutely delicious Turkey Carnitas, designed to make your post-Thanksgiving dining exciting and effortless.

I recently cooked a turkey, complete with a fabulous presentation, specifically to create a range of leftover dishes. These Turkey Carnitas are just the beginning, and trust me, they are amazing. Imagine tender turkey, simmered in a savory Mexican broth, then crisped to perfection, and finally tucked into a taco tortilla boat. It’s an irresistible combination that no game day lover or Taco Tuesday enthusiast could possibly resist!

Crafting the Perfect Mexican Broth: A Symphony of Flavors

The secret to truly sensational Turkey Carnitas lies in the aromatic Mexican broth where the turkey first simmers. This isn’t just about reheating the turkey; it’s about infusing it with layers of profound flavor. We start with a base of rich chicken stock, which provides moisture and a savory foundation. To this, we add finely chopped onion and minced garlic, the classic aromatic duo that forms the soul of countless dishes. A seeded and finely diced jalapeño introduces a gentle warmth without overpowering heat, allowing the other spices to shine.

But what truly elevates this broth are the unique additions that contribute to an authentic carnitas profile. Two strips of orange peel lend a bright, citrusy note that cuts through the richness and adds a subtle sweetness, a hallmark of traditional carnitas. A small cinnamon stick contributes a warm, earthy depth, complementing the savory elements beautifully. Finally, a bay leaf rounds out the broth with its distinctive herbaceous aroma. These ingredients are slowly simmered with the cooked turkey, allowing the meat to absorb their complex flavors until it’s incredibly tender and moist, reserving some of the flavorful liquid for later use.

Achieving Crispy Perfection: The Finishing Touch

Once the turkey has absorbed all that wonderful broth, the next step is to achieve those signature crispy edges that make carnitas so irresistible. In a hot skillet, a bit of canola oil is heated until shimmering. The tender turkey meat is then carefully transferred from the broth to the hot skillet, ensuring the excess liquid has been drained (but don’t discard that precious broth!). This is where the magic of browning happens. As the turkey sizzles, we sprinkle it with a trio of essential Mexican spices: smoky ancho chile powder, earthy cumin, and bright ground coriander. These spices awaken the flavors and contribute to the beautiful browned crust.

The turkey is cooked until it’s golden brown and delightfully crispy on all sides. This brief pan-frying step not only adds incredible texture but also concentrates the flavors, making each bite a harmonious blend of tender, juicy meat and savory, crunchy bits. The result is a far cry from dry, bland leftover turkey; it’s a vibrant, robust component ready for your favorite Mexican dishes.

Assembling Your Turkey Carnitas Masterpiece: Taco Boats and Beyond

One of the best ways to serve these amazing Turkey Carnitas is in Old El Paso Whole Wheat Tortilla Taco Boats. Their unique shape makes them incredibly easy to fill and eat, perfect for parties or a relaxed family dinner. To prepare the base, I like to loosen up the Old El Paso Fat Free Refried Beans with a couple of tablespoons of the reserved broth from simmering the turkey. This adds an extra layer of flavor and makes the beans spreadable and creamy. A generous tablespoon of this bean mixture is spread across the bottom of each whole wheat taco boat.

Next, a hearty scoop of the perfectly cooked Turkey Carnitas meat is added. This forms the delicious core of your taco. But the fun doesn’t stop there! What truly elevates a carnita is a vibrant array of toppings, allowing everyone to personalize their creation. I’m a firm believer that a good carnita comes alive with a variety of fresh, flavorful additions.

The Ultimate Topping Bar Experience: Personalize Every Bite

Creating a topping bar is essential for a fun and interactive meal, especially when serving a crowd. For these Turkey Carnitas, I love to include:

**Queso Fresco:** Crumbly, salty, and mildly creamy, it adds a wonderful fresh dairy element.
**Fresh Cilantro:** Bright and herbaceous, a sprinkle of cilantro instantly elevates the flavor.
**Spicy Radishes:** Thinly sliced radishes provide a refreshing crunch and a delightful peppery kick, contrasting beautifully with the rich turkey.
**Charred Corn:** Sweet and slightly smoky, charred corn kernels add another layer of texture and taste.

Beyond these, consider expanding your topping bar with: creamy avocado slices or guacamole, zesty lime wedges for a burst of acidity, tangy pickled red onions, a dollop of cooling sour cream or Mexican crema, and a selection of your favorite salsas (pico de gallo, salsa verde, or a smoky chipotle salsa) for varying levels of heat. The beauty of a topping bar is that it caters to every palate, ensuring everyone crafts their perfect bite.

Why Turkey Carnitas is Your Go-To for Game Day and Taco Tuesday

These Turkey Carnitas are incredibly versatile, making them a fantastic choice for various occasions. For us, the Saturday after Thanksgiving is a big game day tradition. We invite friends over, watch football, and most importantly, EAT! As the host, I always have plenty of leftover turkey, and these carnitas fit the bill perfectly for feeding a hungry crowd. They’re easy to prepare in advance, making game day less stressful for the host, and the interactive topping bar keeps everyone engaged and happy.

Beyond game day, Turkey Carnitas are an exceptional option for Taco Tuesday. They offer a fresh, healthy, and exciting alternative to traditional ground beef tacos. The preparation is straightforward enough for a weeknight, yet the flavors are sophisticated enough to feel like a special treat. And the best part? They truly are amazing. I’ll be the first to admit I’m generally not a fan of Thanksgiving leftovers. But with a little help from Old El Paso, you can transform them into something truly delicious that the whole family and all your guests will absolutely love.

My Journey to Carnitas: A Happy Accident and Old El Paso Partnership

In our house, we adore Mexican food, but we usually dread leftovers. That’s why I’m always looking for creative ways to combine our love for sports, delicious Mexican flavors, and smart use of post-meal ingredients. You might be wondering why I had leftover turkey before Thanksgiving even arrived! Well, such is the life of a food blogger. A turkey literally landed on my doorstep last Friday at 7 a.m., courtesy of UPS – the bird had landed, indeed!

This early delivery provided the perfect opportunity to experiment and refine this Turkey Carnitas recipe. I put it to the test on a recent game day gathering with friends, where we always love to serve a big spread. These turkey carnitas were an absolute hit! They genuinely feed a crowd, and the interactive topping bar allowed everyone to customize their taco boats to their heart’s content. The convenience of Old El Paso products, from their versatile taco boats to their fat-free refried beans, made the entire process incredibly easy and ensured a consistent, delicious result.

Print Recipe

Turkey Carnitas

Prep Time 5 mins

Cook Time 25 mins

Author Strawberry Blondie Kitchen

Yields 8 servings

Transform your Thanksgiving leftovers into an unforgettable meal! These Turkey Carnitas are the perfect solution for using up turkey, turning it into tender, flavorful, and crispy Mexican-style meat. Ideal for Taco Tuesday, game day, or any occasion needing a big crowd-pleaser!

Ingredients

1 ¼ cups cooked turkey meat (shredded or diced)
1 ½ cups chicken stock
1 onion, finely chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 jalapeno, seeded and finely diced
1 small cinnamon stick
2 strips of orange peel
1 bay leaf
2 tablespoons canola oil
1 teaspoon ancho chile powder
1 teaspoon cumin
½ teaspoon ground coriander
1 package Old El Paso Taco Boats Whole Wheat Tortillas (8 count)
1 (16 ounce) can Old El Paso Fat Free Refried Beans
1 package Old El Paso Stand ‘N Stuff™ Taco Shells (optional, for hard shell lovers)
Toppings of your choice; e.g., Queso fresco, lime wedges, charred corn, fresh cilantro, sliced radishes, sour cream, guacamole, salsa

Instructions

In a small pot, over medium-high heat, combine the cooked turkey meat, chicken stock, chopped onion, minced garlic, diced jalapeno, cinnamon stick, orange peel, and bay leaf. Bring the mixture to a gentle boil.
Reduce the heat to medium-low and let it simmer until most of the liquid has been absorbed, reserving approximately 2 tablespoons of the flavorful broth. This step ensures the turkey is moist and infused with aromatics.
In a medium skillet, heat the canola oil until it’s hot and shimmering. Using a slotted spoon, carefully remove the turkey from the broth (allowing excess liquid to drain) and add it to the hot skillet.
Sprinkle the turkey in the skillet with the ancho chile powder, cumin, and ground coriander. Stir well to ensure the spices coat the turkey evenly.
Cook the turkey in the skillet, stirring occasionally, until it is beautifully browned and crispy on all sides. This creates the desirable carnitas texture. Once crispy, set the turkey meat aside.
In a bowl, combine the Old El Paso Fat Free Refried Beans with the reserved 2 tablespoons of broth from the turkey. Mix thoroughly until the beans are smooth and have a spreadable consistency.
Take an Old El Paso Taco Boat Whole Wheat Tortilla and spread about 1 tablespoon of the refried bean mixture onto the bottom, ensuring it covers the entire base.
Top the bean layer with a generous serving of the flavorful and crispy Turkey Carnitas meat.
Finally, add additional toppings of your choice. Personalize each taco boat with ingredients like queso fresco, lime wedges, charred corn, fresh cilantro, or spicy radishes to your taste.

Courses Main Dish

Beyond the Basics: Tips for Success and Variations

Making these Turkey Carnitas is incredibly straightforward, but a few tips can elevate your experience:

**Make Ahead:** The simmered and crisped turkey meat can be prepared a day or two in advance and stored in the refrigerator. Reheat gently in a skillet before serving to maintain crispiness.
**Storage:** Leftover carnitas meat can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.
**Different Meats:** While fantastic with turkey, this recipe can also be adapted for leftover chicken or even fresh pork shoulder (though cooking times for fresh meat will be longer).
**Dietary Adaptations:** For a gluten-free option, use corn tortillas instead of wheat taco boats. Adjust spice levels to your preference by adding more or less jalapeño and chili powder.
**Hard Shell Lovers:** Don’t forget those who prefer a crunchier taco experience! As my son demonstrated, some guests definitely prefer hard shells. Be sure to grab a box of Old El Paso Stand ‘N Stuff™ taco shells for a complete spread.

So make sure you head out to your local grocery store, like Walmart, and grab some Old El Paso products. They truly are essential for making these Turkey Carnitas quick, easy, and undeniably delicious. With these versatile ingredients, you can effortlessly transform your Thanksgiving leftovers into a meal that feels completely new and exciting. You don’t even have to tell your family or tailgaters that you’ve used the Thanksgiving bird; it’ll just be our little secret. They’ll simply be too busy enjoying the amazing flavors to notice!

Conclusion: Reimagine Your Holiday Leftovers

The culinary journey doesn’t have to end once the Thanksgiving feast is over. With a touch of creativity and the right ingredients, you can transform traditional holiday leftovers into an entirely new and exciting dining experience. These Turkey Carnitas are more than just a recipe; they are a testament to the power of reinvention, bringing bold Mexican flavors and a fun, interactive meal to your table. Whether it’s for a lively game day gathering, a festive Taco Tuesday, or simply a weeknight dinner that feels special, this recipe promises to be a hit. Embrace the challenge of leftover turkey, and let these carnitas become your new favorite post-holiday tradition!

Slow-Cooked Turkey Carnitas